Skirt-sttfpostek



nmrnn STATES PATENT-OFFRE! HENRY F. BROWN, OF GHAGRIN FALL`S`,`OHIO. 1t l.

SKIRT-SUPPOR'JEER.

Specification of LettersPatent No. 26,473, datedDecemberZO,

T o all whom 'it may concern: 1 l

Be it known that I, H. F. BROWN, of

` and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description `of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a front view, Fig. 2, is a back view, Fig.` 3, is a section and Fig. 4, is a view of the inflexible clasp.

The skirt-supporter consists of two parts; thembody A and expanded portion A. The body of the supporter A. may be made of any suitable material or fabric and in general form nearly corresponding to the body of the wearer, and of such form of construction that it can be clasped `or buttoned up in front, as seen in Fig. 1. That part that rests upon the shoulders, seen at B, is made of elastic material and wrought in such a manner as to fit the convexity of the shoulder. Between the shoulders on the back `part of the waist is attached an elastic band or shoulder brace O, which acts as an elflcient shoulder-brace. .I ust `below the arm pits is placed, as seen at c, a metallic hoop of sufficient dimensions to encircle the body of the wearer without coming in Contact therewith. This hoop is of suilicient strength to withstand the pressure of the skirts suspended below without collapsing,

is quilted into the body of the supporter and is clasped in front in the manner herein* after described. A little distance above the hips the supporter body expands as seen at D and an inch or two still lower is another metallic hoop E, quilted or stitched into the fabric of the supporter body, the ends meeting in front at E and clasped as hereinafter specified. The circumference of the hoop E is live or six inches greater than the circumference of the body of the supporter at D. The body of the supporter continues to increase in circumference from E to F, a distance of about four inches, where is inserted `geous effects are greatly assisted by the elassite pressure without collapsing, theendsof y `i the wire arecausedto meetiinyfrontofffthe fil 1 body, and upon one "endiis `solderada tube G5; Fig. 4. The endl-Lora@ wird-lactantes a this tube to I, leaving the; loalrincelof-the"` 1 tube, from I to Gry` open." Thesopposite endof y l the hoop J, enters the pipeG, I, `theends the wire meeting inf the tube,` andHinythis l manner an inflexible clasp isformed. "ThelS` infiexible clasp thus formed is held together` by an elastic claspIQattached to each end of the hoop. Each separate hoop is clasped lin the same manner. Upon the inside"` of the`v` 11:` supporter is attached short straps L, atw proper distances fromlwhich drawers canlbe l I suspended. l.i l The skirts of the` wearer are supported z y simply by buttoningthe waist-band around` the body, above the hoop E, the hoops Ewand, f F, acting as a continuous arch tosupport `the y l weight of the skirt; the constant tendenyfl g being to draw the waist C, D, of thesupporter awayfrom the body,asindicated `byl the dotted lines C,"E, C, E, thus giving `the gc chest a free and unobstructed"motionfg The hoops E, `F, (one or more may" used,) are introducedinto thebodyofthel supporter, not for the purpose of expanding" the skirts, but for the purpose of "preyenting y the contact andconsequent pressure` off the waist bands of the skirts and drawers upon"` y the loins and abdomen of thewearer,` the weight being suspended entirely fromj the shoulders, the hoopsl E, l`,forming` as t` were a horizontal arch entirely around the body and thus protecting the loins andab- Q@ domen wholly froln the pressure of `theuun-` l y der garments and at; the sametimegivingwj;l the bust a handsome` and symmetrical form. y In a state of pregnancy this reliefofthe abdomen from externalfpressure is `a jfeature` of special importance, and the same remark y l 1 applies with equal force to all casesllof uterine prolapsus. Another new and useful 100 effect of my skirt supporter is its action asa shoulder brace. The `weight `of `the skirts when hung upon therigid arch E, F, pulls the flexible arch D from the person, thusw throwing the entire support ofthe skirts di,` 10,5` rectl upon the shoulders through thepads or e astic braces B." In this manner the weight of the skirts tends todraw the shoulders backward whenftheperson is erect so that the skirts and waist together `become a 11101 complete shoulder brace. These advantaskirt supporter therefore is truly an antiaway from the waist. It is also a true shoul- 4 tic shoulder brace O, which gives considerable freedom to the shoulders and yet constantly tends to bring them backward, expanding the chest and facilitating the full inflation of the lungs at every breath. My

lacer, holding the skirts away from the person and also ,drawing the flexible circle D der brace, making the weight of the skirts aid in expanding the chest and thus facili tate the breathing, instead of restraining the respiration, as is common with most waists and corsets now in use.

I Ydo not claim as my lnvention the skirt Vl supporter suspended from the shoulders with an extension provided with hoops or bands,

arranged at intervals and united in front by f H.- F. BROWN.

Witnesses J. BRAINERD, EPHRAIM SHEFFIELD. 

